Juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breast from fresh or frozen. 25 minutes from start to finish, simple ingredients and no saute. Cooking chicken breast in the Instant Pot is an essential recipe that is perfect for beginners and novices alike. Use in a variety of meals and recipes that call for cooked chicken.
This pressure cooker chicken breast is my go-to on a busy weeknight or weekend (who am I kidding?!). Often it becomes shredded chicken making it perfect for salad, tacos and stir fries. Just like Instant Pot whole chicken this is any mom’s best friend.
Table of contents
- Why This Instant Pot Chicken Breast Works?
- Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Chicken Breast
- How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breast in Instant Pot
- How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in Instant Pot
- Tips for Instant Pot Chicken Success
- Serving Recommendations for Cooked Chicken Breast
- FAQs
- Making This Recipe in Advance
- More Healthy Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes
Why This Instant Pot Chicken Breast Works?
This Instant Pot chicken breast recipe is easy, simple and forgiving. Don’t you always have a pack of chicken breasts in your freezer?! Now you can make chicken breast in Instant Pot from fresh or frozen in 30 minutes.
I just love Instant Pot! It makes the best Instant Pot rice and beans with no soaking, lasagna with no need for a springform pan, the most tender Instant Pot beef stew with no need to saute and these easy Instant Pot steamed vegetables.
If you are new to pressure cooking, check out my Instant Pot guide. It explains what happens, why and how to avoid failures. If you don’t have an Instant Pot yet but are thinking about buying one, I explain which Instant Pot to buy in my humble opinion.
Also if you are not a blessed electric pressure cooker owner just yet, check out my baked chicken breast recipe. Same easy and simple. Also this honey garlic chicken would be good pan fried – in case you don’t have an oven.
Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Chicken Breast
You really need only chicken breasts and water. Everything else is up to your taste and what meal idea you are planning to use with your cooked Instant Pot chicken breast recipe.
If you are adding cooked chicken breast to salads, quesadillas and tostadas, I would not worry about seasonings much.
If you are planning to eat cooked chicken breast alongside quinoa or brown rice and salad (meal prep style), I would pay attention to spices.
- Chicken breasts – You can use fresh or frozen.
- Salt and pepper – Simple seasonings so your chicken is a ‘blank slate’ for recipes.
- Garlic powder – If you wish, but not required.
- Dried herbs – If you like, really it will depend on how you plan to use the chicken once it is ready.
Use one of these 5 chicken marinades to really ramp up the flavor of the chicken breast.
How to Cook Fresh Chicken Breast in Instant Pot
- Add 1 cup water and place trivet on top.
- Lay chicken breasts in a single layer, sprinkle with spices and rub onto each other.
- Press Pressure Cook on High or Manual for 10 minutes – under 2″ thickness and 15 minutes – over 2″ thick breasts.
- Do Natural Release for 5 minutes and then turn pressure valve to Venting.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in Instant Pot
Cook frozen chicken breasts just like fresh but:
- For 15 minutes.
- Make sure each breast is separated.
If you add a blob of frozen chicken breasts, you will end up with raw meat inside and overcooked chicken outside.
When you bring fresh chicken from the store, line each breast with small piece of parchment paper before adding to a bag and freezing. Thaw for 5 minutes or run under cold water for easy parchment paper removal.
Check out my Instant Pot frozen chicken breast recipe for detailed info.
Tips for Instant Pot Chicken Success
What Size of Instant Pot Can I Use?
Any – 3 quart, 5 quart, 6 quart or 8 quart.
Same recipe. Same cooking time. Same water amount.
Just make sure chicken breasts fit in a single layer. If your Instant Pot is small and you want to cook large amount of breasts, do so in a few batches. Piling up chicken in a few layers will result in undercooked chicken.
Also note that larger pressure cooker (like mine – 8 quart) take longer to come to pressure – about 8-10 minutes.
Do I Have to Saute Breasts Before Cooking?
I just had to comment. Many recipes online ask you to saute chicken breast before pressure cooking in an effort “to lock in most of juices”. I can assure you I have cooked chicken breast in Instant Pot over 20 times and it comes out juicy if you follow my recipe.
Can I Cook Breasts with Bones?
Yes. Even with skin on, if you wish. Same amount of time.
Does Size of Breast Matter?
6 oz or 10 oz – doesn’t matter. 10 minutes or 15 minutes of pressure cooking is enough time to cook standard American supermarket chicken breasts.
Can I Cook Just One Breast?
Yes, you can. You can cook as many instapot chicken breasts as you need or as little as long as they fit into a single layer. Same cooking time.
Serving Recommendations for Cooked Chicken Breast
There are so many ways to answer the question on what to do with cooked chicken breast! Here are a few ways to turn your Instant Pot chicken breast recipe into a meal:
- Shredded: Shred meat with 2 forks, refrigerate and use to make chicken salad or white chicken chili. Or skip sauteing and use instead of ground turkey to make pasta bake.
- Diced: Cube to add protein to vegetarian pasta dish, easy spaghetti recipe or even vegetable soup or borscht. Why not?!
- Low carb meal: Make one of healthy zucchini recipes and enjoy quick dinner entire family will love.
- Meal prep: Refrigerate whole or cubed and use throughout the week for lunches – sub out your sandwich deli meat for chicken or use in Cobb salad.
- Freeze for later. When ready to eat, thaw on the counter for a few hours or in the fridge overnight.
Alternately, browse 65 chicken recipes perfect for putting your Instant Pot chicken to good use!
Major tip alert! Save that broth on the bottom of the pot for making chicken soup or any soup. It is basically free chicken broth.
FAQs
Cooking times will vary depending on the size and if your chicken is fresh or frozen. Here are some general guidelines – for fresh breasts under 2″ thickness cook on high for 10 minutes. For fresh breasts over 2″ thick or if your chicken breast is frozen, cook for 15 minutes.
Using my cooking guidelines for both size of breast and fresh/frozen, you should end up with perfectly cooked chicken breast in the Instant Pot. If it is rubbery, this could be a sign of undercooked meat. Check the internal temperature which should be 165F degrees for chicken breast.
Because the Instant Pot steam provides a moist environment for your chicken breast, this is difficult to do, but nonetheless no one likes dry chicken. If you are worried about this, be sure to follow this recipe to a ‘T’ and measure your chicken breast thickness at its widest point so you know exactly how long to cook chicken breast in Instant Pot.
Yes! Be sure to see our Instant Pot chicken thighs recipe for exact cooking method.
Making This Recipe in Advance
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge or on a counter.
More Healthy Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes
Did you know we have entire Youtube channel dedicated to healthy Instant Pot recipes and tips? My goal is to help you become confident with your Instant Pot by demonstrating each delicious foolproof recipe in step-by-step videos.
Make sure to subscribe and hit the Bell icon not to miss new videos.
- Instant Pot chicken and rice that we make every month!
- Instant Pot chicken and potatoes everyone will love, trust me!
- Instant Pot white chicken chili is creamy and made healthier.
- Instant Pot frozen chicken – rotisserie style whole chicken.
- 10 healthy freezer meals you can cook from frozen in your pressure cooker.
- And check out over 45 other Instant Pot recipes.
Instant Pot Chicken Breast {Fresh or Frozen}
Ingredients
- 3 lbs boneless chicken breasts fresh or frozen*
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- To the Instant Pot, add water and place trivet inside.
- Lay chicken breasts in a single layer (if using frozen make sure they are separated) and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly with tongs or hands.
- Close the lid, set pressure vent to Sealing and press Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes (under 2″ thickness) for fresh or 15 minutes for fresh (over 2″ thick) and frozen chicken breasts.
- Display will say ON, Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure, you will see a bit of steam coming out from a valve, then float valve will rise and countdown will begin.
- After 10-15 minutes your chicken is ready, Instant Pot will beep and display will say OFF. Wait 5 minutes and do Quick Release by turning sealing valve to Venting position.
- Open the lid and your chicken breasts are ready for meal prep, casseroles, salads etc. Shred or cube, and save the stock at the bottom for soup.
- Shred or cube, and save the stock at the bottom for soup.
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in a fridge or on a counter.
Video
Notes
- *If using frozen chicken breasts make sure they are separated. Think about it before freezing a whole tray, separate them with parchment paper.
- Feel free to use chicken broth instead of water.
Nutrition
Recipes and images are a copyright of ifoodreal.com. It is against the law to republish recipes anywhere including social media, print and all world wide web. Nutritional info is provided for informational purposes only and to the best knowledge.
So simple and easy, turned out perfect. I am so glad I found your website. I love using my instant pot, and your website is going to help me immensely and improve more..
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Olena, if I use bone-in chicken breasts – will the timing be the same?
I would add 2 minutes.
You made that so easy! Thanks very much for being a great resource 🙂
You are very welcome!
Just did three boneless, skinless chicken breasts to use in Fettuccine Alfredo, for 12 minutes and they were tender and juicy. Loving my Instant Pot and loving your recipe. Thank you.
So happy to read this! My pleasure.
I wanted to cook boneless, skinless chicken for enchiladas — this was a no-muss, no-fuss recipe, and super-quick! Thank you for this easy time saver! Now, I’ll have to check the website further and see if the same method works for chicken thighs.
Hi Jan! I am so happy that this recipe was a hit for you!
And here is my instant pot chicken thighs recipe:
https://ifoodreal.com/instant-pot-chicken-thighs/
I like this recipe. It’s easy and healthy. The stock at the bottom of the IP saves me from opening a whole can when I just use not even half of it. 👍👍👍
Love that you use the stock too, Agnes. It’s so good!
Love this easy way to cook Chicken Breast. Used to shy away from using the Breast meat because it can be dey, but not with the Instant Pot. Your recipe is simple, gave it to my son who believe me, is not a cook abd he is now hooked on making Chicken Breast this way. So much healthier for people living alone than fast food.
Thank you so much for sharing.
You are very welcome Donna!
I love to put my chicken breast in the ip while I chop onions, peppers, etc for chicken tortilla soup. By the time I’m finished chopping and sauteing the veggies, my chicken is cool enough to shred and addd to the soup. Quick prep for a hot, tasty meal on a cold night.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing, Becky!
I love this channel she and her husband are delightful. Her recipes are simple to follow and dont usually use bizarre ingredients that you’re not likely to have on hand
Awe, thanks so much Tracy!
So good and easy to cook the chicken. And I love how I can chicken stock in the liquid. The chicken meat was so moist!
Thanks for the fantastic feedback Karen!
I followed the recipe exactly. I did 15 minutes with fresh chicken because they were thick. I tried it twice and both times the chicken were at least ten degrees below 165.
If you do a quick release without waiting 5 minutes and check temp it will likely be 165 , for sure temp drops while waiting to do the quick realease
I let the release go at 15 min. And it was a touch under cooked. I went 20(cooking) and release at 15, it would not come off the bone easily. 25 works with 15min release. Very tender . Chicken at 165degrees always makes me sick.
Awesome recipe! Chicken came out perfect!!! Thanks 🙂
You are welcome Cynthia!
I did release it too soon. would that cause it to be kind of tough?
Yes. Also quality of meat itself as well. I always use organic from Costco breasts and always juicy and moist.
Instead of water can I use broth?
Sure
Great recipe! Made this today and the chicken is perfect. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the awesome review!
Hello I received my pot as a gift so was wondering if there is a kit supply list of certain gadgets to go with my pot that didn’t come with it any suggestions? Thanks 🙏 again for this site so awesome and exciting
Hi Connie. I don’t use many but what I use I show in this video https://youtu.be/5rpv7Ylxx-s 🙂
I just love how this recipe gives you a nicely cooked chicken breast that’s not undercooked or overcooked. I used frozen chicken breasts and they turned out juicy and fall apart texture.
Wonderful!
Brilliant!!! Soooo easy, perfectly cooked from frozen and definitely not dry. Paired with your 10 minute spaghetti recipe. Loved by whole family!! You just made my life easier, thank you!!
Music to my ears! Thanks Jodie!
Hi I just got my ip a few weeks ago and I was scared to ues it but then I made pull pork and it tune out really well. Than just last week I made chicken breast in it and omg it was so good and vary juicy with the spices and after I made a gravy from the juice it was really good I was happy with it
Amanda! Love hearing that you got an ip and that you are loving the recipes!
I am interested in the gravy recipe. I have never made it before. I bet it is as good as you say.
Thanks,
Christina Musick
I often have chicken tenders in my freezer. Any tips on how I can cook them from frozen in the instant pot?
Same as chicken breast but 3 mins less. Make sure they are separated.
Another great instantpot success!
Two lovely chicken breast halves, boneless, skinless, just over 1 lb.
1 cup water, a sprinkle of tarragon, onion powder and s&p.
Just as you said, “10 mins high pressure, 5 mins natural release” = perfect chicken for a salad tonight and a sandwich tomorrow. 😋
Thank you Olena
You are very welcome Marcia 🙂
I pretty much tried this recipe added a few things but it turned out awesome the times for cooking is correct and is very fast and easy
I followed your recipe and my chicken breasts were perfect! I shredded the breasts for a chicken enchilada recipe. Thank you for posting the recipe and instructions. They were very helpful.
So happy you found my instructions helpful Yvonne.
I’ve used this as a guide for making chicken breasts of every kind of flavour you can imagine. Works perfectly every time- THANK YOU!
So awesome to receive this feedback. Thanks Marie!
I’m new to instant pot and I followed thecrecipe for the chicken. But it came out dry :/ I used 2 chicken breasts…. they were frozen, so I cooked it for 1 minute on high to defrost them enough to separate them before I started the recipe. Any tips? I’m at sea level so I don’t know if that has something to do with it.
Maybe when you released pressure, it pulled some moisture from meat. But in any case try to add some of cooking liquid to shredded meat and it should be golden. Also some people find breast dry no matter what and it is lean.
How do you cook in batches? Do you have to restart with cold water?
Yes.
I turn to this recipe whenever I cook chicken in the instant pot. So far it has worked everytime!
That’s so awesome to hear Cheryl. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I didn’t have chicken breasts on hand but had bone in chicken thighs. I put them on the trivet. I sprinkled with onion powder, garlic powder and thyme. For the liquid, I used 1/2 cup chicken broth and 1/2 cup water. I set the setting for 15 minutes and then did the release. The chicken was delicious!!!
Awesome!
My favorite “Go To” supper – Instant Pot and Costco/Kirtland individually frozen chicken breast. I place then on vegetables with heaping teaspoon of Better Than Chicken Bouillon. The natural release is best on meats. Great way to make green chile chicken enchiladas.
My first new go-to recipe. I just bought my Instant Pot, so I was very happy that this dish came out tender, tasty, and healthy.
Finding ifoodreal.com is like opening a treasure chest of ideas, recipes, inspiration, entertainment, and upbeat presentations by this very confident and accomplished cook. Thank you, Oleana! You are a pro, whether you claim to be or not.
Thank you so much for the kinds words, Jocelyn. You have have no idea how much I appreciate it.
It doesn’t say when to add the 2 cups chicken broth in the instant pot chicken alfredo. Maybe the 2 cups of milk is suppose to be the chicken broth. I am so confused. Please help. I interpret 2 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of milk.
Hello Sandra. Which recipe are you needing help with? You commented on the instant pot chicken breast (which calls for water).
For the IP Chicken Alfredo, you add the broth in the first step (1.
To Instant Pot, add chicken, stock, oil, salt and pepper.) Hope that helps.
Last week I used this recipe with frozen breasts and tonight I used it with thawed, turned out PERFECT both times! Thank you for making my life easier. ?
You don’t know how happy this makes me 🙂
Loved your video. You are so natural. Easy! Thanks
Thanks for the kind feedback Signe!
I i always use this recipe! It works! When I want shredded chicken I just throw my breast in the KitchenAid with the paddle and it’s shredded in about 1 minute!
Awesome tip Connie!
This was the first thing I cooked with my new Instant Pot, and it turned out great! I cooked one chicken breast (it’s just me), and I just added a seasoning blend I already had. It was so juicy and delicious! I just wanted a basic recipe for cooking chicken breast because I knew nothing about how to use it, and all the recipes in the app were more complicated. I couldn’t find anything to tell me step-by-step how to cook just a chicken breast! So I got on Google, as you do now, and this was one of the first things that came up. I think I will be back very soon to learn how to cook other things!
Awesome. Welcome to Instant Pot Cooking! I hope you find my other instant pot recipes helpful!
Perfect. Yummy. I shredded my chicken and added bbq sauce and put it over white rice!
Can I cook my frozen chicken breast in 1 cup pasta sauce and no trivet with cabbage on top of chicken?
Thank you,
Jan
Have not tried this combo. You can try. Might cause burn or not – could go either way.
Chicken always turns out perfectly juicy! The seasoning I use varies every time I make this depending on what my plan is with it. Definitely a keeper!
Glad my chicken is a go-to recipe for you Ashley!
Thank you for this clear and thorough recipe for how all the steps on how to cook chicken in an Instant Pot. Your instructions are way better than those of the pot itself, which I found confusing and incomplete. They should hire you to write their manuals. Thank you so much!! Tree
Thanks so much Tree! I just love instant pot cooking and sharing it with others 🙂
Excellent recipe, thank you! Your recipe was easy to follow and to the point. All too often when looking for recipes additional (not needed) information is added.
Thank you
Do you have to use the trivet? Or can you just put the breast in the water?
Can put them right in the water.
I usually just put them in the water
Thanks so much! I’m still learning how to cook with the instant pot, and your recipes are helping!
Yay! That makes me so happy to hear Sue!
The best I’ve ever had! So easy and the broth is outstanding!
Thanks so much! Love your recipes!
You are so welcome Laura!
My go to recipe for chicken breasts! ?
Love hearing this Heidi!
From rock hard frozen to juicy and delicious so quickly. We shredded the chicken and used for tacos, yum. Thanks for the recipe! You rock!
Yay! That’s awesome Amy 🙂
Done it a couple times now (fresh) and it has been perfect. Thanks for the simple recipe!
You are so welcome Niall!
So glad I found you! I tried the recipe with plain breasts to shred and freeze for use later in tacos, enchiladas, etc. I was wondering if you can make two layers (on two stackable trivets) to cook more chicken at one time?
Hi Laura. Yes you can as long as breasts are not stacked on top of each other but on another trivet not touching.
With only 2 of us at home I have a 4quart pressure cooking pot. I bought a pkg of the skinless 2 breast chicken and stuck it in the freezer 3 weeks ago and thawed it yesterday. I had no idea what I was going to do with it. This afternoon I found a McCormick marinade package (garlic, wine & herb) and decided to marinate the breasts for a couple hours but then wasn’t sure how to cook them. Thank you for your instant pot recipe and cooking info! Using it as a guide, I basically poured the marinade into the pot on top of the breasts, added some chicken broth, a few Boomer Gold little potatoes from the Little Potato Company and pressure cooked it for 8 minutes (time on brochure that came with my Elite Bistro pot for 2lb breasts) It came out really yummy and I’m saving the delicious broth too so thanks for your help!!
You are very welcome Melissa! Happy cooking!
I just love you. I have had my instant pot in a box since November, its now the end of March. I had no confidence to use this until I watched your video. Thank you, so much!!!!
Awe, thanks so much Christina! You’ve got this! Enjoy the instant pot!
Loved the frozen chicken recipe and I immediately did the baked potatoes in the same instant pot without cleaning it. I took out the juice from the chicken and put in 1/2 cup of water, the trivet and potatoes and they were perfect. Thanks so much!
Chicken came out delicious and juicy.
Fantastic!
It was so juicy and cooked well it doesn’t matter the thickness of the chicken, each breast came out perfect. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am saving this in my phone to reference when I make any chicken again.
You are very welcome Bethany!
very easy to make!
Glad you found it easy! Thanks for the feedback Stephanie!
First chicken instant pot recipe that really worked well for me. I’m very impressed!
Easy & DELICIOUS!!
It was perfect! This was my first time using my instapot! This was so easy! My whole family couldn’t believe how juicy the chicken was!
YAY! Love that your whole family enjoyed the chicken. Please don’t be shy to leave a comment and star review when you try any of my other instant pot recipes!
She’s great explaining everything perfect and easy to understand!
Love these guys!
I will keep watching all their videos!!
Thanks
Diane
Awe thanks Diane! So glad you find the videos helpful!
We thought it was absolutely delicious. The cooking was easy and fun. Chicken just pleasantly surprised us thank you
Betty Ann
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Betty! Thank you for the wonderful review!
When I first saw this, I used it and haven’t stopped using it since! Best and easiest. I love your recipes (and so does my husband!!!)
Awe. So happy to hear, Kathy. We love easy and simple here too.
Did it many times. Perfect meal.
Glad to hear it works for you as well as it works for me.
Quick, easy and succulent chicken – My first chicken ‘try’ in the Instant Pot – Very, very pleased with the results!
n.b. used the trivet.
Awesome!!!
The instrustions are so easy and the chicken is so moist.
Thank you for your wonderful review, Lois!!!
Why do you use the trivet as opposed to cooking the chicken directly in the liquid?
You can do either way. I like chicken less poached that’s why the trivet.
Thank you for the great tips!! Chicken turned out great.
Yay! Awesome to hear, Kathy!
I used frozen chicken breasts in your Chicken and Wild Rice recipe over the weekend and they came out just fine They shredded very easy and the soup tasted great. I had to smile when I used my immersion blender (I call it my outboard motor) I remembered your demo in your video how not to go wild with the blender LOL
Yup haha. The key is to stop haha.
2 large boneless chicken breasts yield 5 cups Moist and tender chopped chicken.
Cooked so ver well and the broth it produced was amazing.
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Steve!
Thank you! It was hard to find a recipe where I didn’t need to saute the meat first. I set the pot for 10 minutes and then did natural release for 10 minutes. We had half of the chicken with BBQ sauce tonight and I shredded the rest for Mexican style tomorrow.
Yes! I honestly do not understand why so many recipes saute the breast. I see no point with IP. Glad you liked it!
Video shows 20 minutes to cook recipe calls for 10 minutes cooking – which is better?
After more testing I was happy with 10 mins. Video is older. Honestly either way it works the same.
Sorry? How is it th same? 10 minutes vs. 20 minutes is a big difference in a pressure cooker.
I have always overcooked chicken for the sake of having it up to temp. I just found your site and I’m trying your 10 minute recipe. Praying for the great results I’m reading, and still fully cooked. 😀
I don’t talk about 10-20 mins. 10 mins for thinner and 15 mins for thicker. size of chicken breast doesn’t matter but rather thickness.
I did boneless breasts and they definitely weren’t done after 10 minutes
Must have been extra thick or the altitude…
So easy and quick! Thanks for a great recipe. I love Instant Pot recipes and I eat A LOT of chicken. I love not having to babysit the chicken and just let it go in the IP. This is a great recipe. I used Mrs. Dash.
You are very welcome, Angie! That’s what I like the most about IP – I don’t have to babysit it LOL. I have enough babysitting in my life haha.
I’ll be honest, when I first saw the chicken breasts after having removed the lid I thought there was no way that they’d be moist and delicious but I am happy to say that I was SO wrong. This is the only way I’ll be cooking them from now on. Thanks again Olena for another great recipe.
I totally understand haha. Yup, it’s Instant Pot for you.
Juicy and soft chicken breast. I finally got an Instant Pot, and this is a very successful recipe for it. I used cooked chicken for wraps with ranch, arugula and corn. Thank you.
You are very welcome!
Hi, would it still be one cup of water if not using a trivet?
Yes.
Thank you so much! This is easy, quick and comes out juicy and flavorful every time. I use this for daily salads. You are THE BEST!
Aw, thank you so much!:)
THANK YOU!!!! Finally, instant pot chicken that is tender! So Good!
Your instant pot chicken breast recipe is foolproof. I have tried a few and your cooking time is spot on. Thank you!